CARICOM blasts UK, Ex-Gov Jaspert over secretive CoI launch
Announced on January 18, 2021, the inquiry was called over unfounded allegations of corruption and discrimination in the VI public service, with the embattled ex-governor having no consultations with the duly elected local government ahead of the decision.
At a noon press conference on January 22, 2021, in the ‘Tortola Room’ of the Arbitration Centre in Wickham’s Cay II, Mr Jaspert brought forward no evidence of the allegations, however, said it was based on reports from the 'community' and several others.
CARICOM breaks silence
CARICOM in a statement today, February 26, 2021, has since broken its silence and said they were in receipt of a letter from Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) which apprised of the manner in which the announcement of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) was made.
“Heads of Government are cognizant of the disquiet that has arisen among the people of the British Virgin Islands about the establishment of the COI,” the statement noted.
“Further, the Heads of Government are dismayed at the manner in which the CoI was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the British Virgin Islands,” CARICOM said.
Associate members share VI’s concerns – CARICOM
The regional organisation further revealed that the strongly expressed concerns of the Fahie Government are also concerns shared by other Associate Members of the Community.
The statement, however, did not say how CARICOM intends to move forward with those concerns as a regional organisation given that the VI is currently an Associate Member.
Meanwhile, Premier Fahie on January 19, 2021, informed that while his administration had no objection to a transparent CoI, he said Ex-Governor Jaspert had always told local Cabinet Members, that due process must be followed ahead of any inquiry.
He said the ex-Governor advised “that before a Commission of Inquiry can be convened, that to ensure due process, all Government institutions established to ensure accountability, transparency and Good Governance must be allowed to function and produce their reports,” however, the controversial Mr Jaspert may not have followed his recommendations.
No recent reports were sent to Governor's office – AG Webster
VI Auditor General, Ms Sonia M. Webster, when asked on January 20, 2021, whether she furnished the Office of the Governor with any recent report to facilitate his CoI, said her office had not done so.
Ex-Governor Jaspert at his January 22, 2021, press conference in the ‘Tortola Room’ also could not say whether he received written reports from any Government institutions to warrant the CoI.
The former controversial Governor also angered sections of the VI over what many deemed as insensitive and even racist statements, when he advocated for the preservation of names and local landmarks in honour of perpetrators of slavery who slaughtered, raped and killed the ancestors of Virgin Islanders.
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40 Responses to “CARICOM blasts UK, Ex-Gov Jaspert over secretive CoI launch”
CSC can do nothing only fuel the fire.
BVI don’t even want to be part of Caricom if I remember well but now they have to put in word for us again
Let the Brits come take this place man.
This Government wasting too much money on nonsense.
You mean to say you paying a slow Badge $360 k a month to say they protecting the borders, and all this Drugs and guns plus elligals coming in.
We also waiting to see who will get the job to pay VG airport, after the Canadian Company charge less than the Local. Big big big city back going on in the Government, tell them C.....do J......s say so. The Brits need to come.
All you still pushing your line that “many took his comments to be racist”. But you missed the next sentence which should read: “because CSC and friends told people it was, even when it was not”.
Anyway, glad to see you all running scared.
Some of our BVI people running going talking to the governor like he care anything about us or the BVI.
They’re all about divide, split up and conquer. That’s what those people mentality is all about.
And then they sit back, get in their little groups and laugh and talk about us.
It’s sad how even in 2021 we can’t see that, but we quick to call down our brothers and sisters from the other Caribbean Islands.
We must be bold and resist any form of foreign domination. They came over the centuries as helping to develop the Caribbean and exploited all the economies for the enrichment themselves. Those countries that depend on the foreign assistance must learn to practice self reliance. The development may take a longer period, however, the work of development will be accomplished. I must commend the Premier of the Virgin Islands for not accepting the loan guarantee from the British Government, because the conditions for accepting the loan is e recipe for riot.
CARICOM has 18.5 million people over a vast geography of land and sea, while small landlocked Switzerland has 8.5 million. What is the difference in productivity and prosperity? When you consider how CARICOM people behave (BVI included) you will see the answer.
You don't know what you are talking about, the people of the BVI have suffered under both governments, and for you crooks in CARICOM no time would have been the right time
If the U.K. was genuine then fine. they are not. They started this and don’t want to fix their mess. What they want is control as if they are superior.
Preserving the names of slave masters unquestionably, is a horribly racist position.
They have no dominion over my race anymore if they did the pretense will stop. You can never say that to my face. I have no respect for people that ran slaves and now want to deny the effects of slavery and deny that colonialism it still exist while owning colonies.
What has the U.K. done to earn our respect? They undermine every good gesture with trickery, and subtly racist decisions. In our time of weakness they move to entangle us economically.
In our time of weakness they want to increase control not give assistance according to our needs.
Prove me wrong.